Welcome to GamerDad: Gaming with Children. My name is Andrew S. Bub - the GamerDad - and I've been writing about videogames, movies, and children for over 15 years now. After working as a magazine journalist, I switched gears to write about how media violence affects children, educating parents about them, and working closely with magazines, newspapers, major retailers and even politicians. GamerDad is an internationally recognized expert in this field. Games, movies and media are fun, kids and families love them, they aren't going away. So join me in cutting through the hype and lets have a real conversation about the things that matter: Video Games, Violent Media, and their supposed effect on children and families.
Welcome to GamerDad: Gaming with Children. My name is Andrew S. Bub - the GamerDad - and I've been writing about videogames, movies, and children for over 15 years now. After working as a magazine journalist, I switched gears to write about how media violence affects children, educating parents about them, and working closely with magazines, newspapers, major retailers and even politicians. GamerDad is an internationally recognized expert in this field. Games, movies and media are fun, kids and families love them, they aren't going away. So join me in cutting through the hype and lets have a real conversation about the things that matter: Video Games, Violent Media, and their supposed effect on children and families.
GamerDad Says: Let Them Eat M-Mature!
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Posted on March 16th, 2009 by
Yes, it’s true. A healthy sapling tree bends when the wind hits it while the mighty oak defies said wind. As GamerDad, I’ve always constantly try to bend. When people ask me advice the first thing I do is try and figure out what they WANT to hear. If they clearly want to hear bad things, I’ll tell them a few bad things and then a few really good things. If a parent is clearly a geek and is maybe overdoing it, I’ll advise they throttle back a bit and tell them a few of the bad things about overdoing it with video games. I definitely do not believe violent video games make a person violent. I believe they can purge anger from a person, but I also believe they can adversely affect a disturbed child. In fact, I think they’re an opportunity to help diagnose said child. Anyway, my point is that I’m going to start going off the reservation again and I’m going to start recommending some M games to parents – under certain circumstances. GamerDad has NEVER been about the rating. It’s always been about the WHY. Here’s what I mean.
This Week in Games: March 15 – 21
Posted on March 16th, 2009 by
Talk about the Invasion of the Handhelds! This week the PSP gets an excellent looking shooter from the folks who brought us the Syphon Filter games, Resistance Retribution. The DS gets a release list that would make any console proud for a holiday release list! As for the rest … well, not very much, including a PC list that includes half the games that supposedly came out last week, and the week before. But this week isn’t about them – if you have a DS or PSP, I hope you’ve been saving your pennies … Check out the list! more…
Resident Evil V
Posted on March 15th, 2009 by
I’ve been playing this game nonstop since Friday, it’s a terrific horror adventure. Now, you may have heard that because the game is set in Africa, this is a racist game. Yes you shoot Zombies of many races, including African. What needs to be remembered is that these aren’t human beings. See, I shoot zombies not for the color of their skin, but for the content of their character – which is eating my brains. Anyway, see if I think this one is for kids, the answer might surprise you.
State of the Heart 3/09
Posted on March 15th, 2009 by
So the Heart Attack happened in early September. Right before that I spoke at the Penny Arcade Expo. I did an hour GamerDad speech, moderated a panel, sat on another panel and improvised a Political Gaming speech when ECA Pres Hal Halpin had to bow out. After the heart attack on Sept 2nd. it was decided I’d have a quadruple bypass. Like NOW. I threw a clot around then – it ended up in my lungs – and was released in Mid-Sept. Then I did something crazy. I worked.
Game Review: Boing! Docomodake DS
Posted on March 14th, 2009 by
Just as folks in the United States have a gecko mascot that sells car insurance, in Japan they have a cartoon mushroom mascot named Docomodake that represents a major cell phone company. Similar to other popular commercial mascots like The California Raisins, The Noid, and those M&M guys, Docomodake has enjoyed success with other merchandising products as well, like cell phone straps, plush toys, and even his own video game on the Nintendo DS! Even though we may not be as familiar with the character, Docomodake’s DS outing transcends language and cultural barriers and remains a fun, simple little action puzzle platformer romp.
Game Review: Digimon World Championship (DS)
Posted on March 14th, 2009 by
Did you know that before Digimon became an imitator of Pokemon, it was a keychain virtual pet game like Tamagotchi? Well, in Digimon World Championship for the Nintendo DS, they seem to have gone back to Digimon’s roots, as this plays more like a pet simulator than a monster battling RPG.
Give Blood says the Resident of Evil Creek
Posted on March 13th, 2009 by
It’s Friday the 13th and Resident Evil V comes out today. So this seems fitting! Remember when some cranky old judge – ruling against video games – referred to one of the most famous video games as “The Resident of Evil Creek.” Ha ha! So lame! Wait, oh yeah, it happend like 9 years ago. Nevermind. This is news from Capcom about a Blood Drive (something I can’t do anymore, sadly). Here it comes…
It Takes an iVillage
Posted on March 13th, 2009 by
A little career update for you – NBC/iVillage are hiring me to help them out with some sound parental advice. The fee is right, the deadline is harsh, but it looks like fun work. More later!
GTA4: The Lost and Damned
Posted on March 13th, 2009 by
I’m a pretty big fan of Rockstar’s work. Bully is a game that should be checked out by any teen, and Grand Theft Auto is the pinnacle of, well, the genre best known for Grand Theft Auto. Given the overt sex, gore, violence, drugs, crime, murder, car-jacking, cop shooting, bystanding smashing, other gang killing, corrupt politician bribing, awesome music selection listen … er… listen to-er… okay, I’m done. I’ve been playing The Lost and Damned and boy are my morals tired!
Sesame Street on the Skids?
Posted on March 12th, 2009 by
Say it ain’t so Grover! Yes, the recession is apparently affecting everyone’s favorite urban environment … lets hope it doesn’t come to this picture (from GoogleImages). Here’s the article and please Grover, please, quit smoking!
